Berkshire lost to Sussex by 148 runs in the National Counties Cricket Association’s ‘Showcase’ game at Slough on Tuesday.
With two short stoppages for rain – losing 22 minutes in all – the contest was reduced to 47 overs a side.
The Sharks, who won the toss and elected to bat first, were dismissed for 334, losing their 10th wicket to the final ball of their 47 overs.
Oli Carter top-scored with 78 off 88 balls, while there were half-centuries for Dan Ibrahim, Henry Rogers and skipper John Simpson.
Carter and Ibrahim put on 117 runs for the third wicket, leaving Sussex on 156-3 in the 28th over.
Four Berkshire bowlers took two wickets, the pick of them being Wokingham seamer Andy Rishton, who conceded only 23 runs off 10 overs.
The National Trophy holders were given a slightly revised target of 332 in 47 overs, but fell well short at 183, the game ending in the 35th over. That was for nine wickets as opener Rhys Lewis was forced to retire hurt with a hip injury after six overs when he had scored 20 runs off 18 balls, including four boundaries.
Berks then lost three wickets in their first eight overs, all being taken by left-arm seamer Jack Campbell, who was making his first appearance for the first team.
The middle-order showed some resistance, with Dan Lincoln (28) and Matt Dalrymple (19) sharing a fifth-wicket stand of 36, only for the pair to fall in quick succession, leaving the hosts six down with 109 on the board.
With nothing to lose, Rishton decided to hit out, making a rapid 44 from 28 balls before being bowled by Tom Clark. He hit a six and five boundaries.
Toby Greatwood was caught by Campbell off Clark for 18 to bring an end to a rather disappointing batting performance by the home side.
They are the most successful county outside the first-class game, but sadly, this was not reflected on Tuesday when they were unable to follow the achievements of Buckinghamshire, Cheshire and Lincolnshire, who beat Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, respectively, in Showcase matches this week.
Bucks, with Henley’s Ross Richardson keeping wicket, defeated Metro Bank Cup holders Leicestershire by three wickets at Grace Road, one of only two National Counties not to enjoy home advantage.
Cheshire’s win was largely unexpected, as they had recently lost to Oxfordshire in a Championship game by an innings and 197 runs.
They now face unbeaten Berkshire at Nantwich starting this coming Sunday (July 28).
A third successive win would virtually give Dan Lincoln’s men the Western Division 1 title. They are 17 points clear of Oxfordshire, who are the visitors to Falkland CC on August 11-13.
By Dave Wright
